PUPILS at the University of Chester Academy Northwich (UCAN) have made ‘exceptional progress’ in this year’s GCSEs.

The percentage of students gaining five A*-C including English and maths – the former government benchmark – has increased on last year’s figure.

A school spokesman said the percentage of students who have achieved the Government’s new measure, known as ‘Progress 8’, ‘is positive’.

Progress 8 is a change from the present grading method to a point scoring system, which is aimed at creating a broader and more balanced Key Stage 4 curriculum.

To attain Progress 8 students must achieve C grade or higher in each of English, maths, two sciences, a foreign language and a humanities subject.

Cath Green, school principal, said: “I wish to applaud all our students on these tremendous results which are a reflection of their enjoyment of learning and commitment to their studies.

“I would also like to acknowledge their teachers, who know our students inside-out and have high expectations of them, and also their families who support and trust us.”

There were a number of high flying students from this year’s current batch of talented teenagers.

Among the many individual successes are Peter Dickenson, who achieved five As, two Bs and two Cs; Lauren Barton, who achieved six As and three Bs; Lucy Deakin, who achieved one A*, three As, four Bs and a C; and Lauren Cook, who achieved four As and five Bs.

UCAN was placed in special measures by Ofsted following an inspection in February 2014.

In December 2015, the education watchdog said the school no longer required special measures following an inspection of the school.

The visit followed four monitoring inspections at the school between May 2014 and June 2015.

A school spokesman said the results demonstrated that students at UCAN can make ‘exceptional progress’.

Mrs Green said: “These results once again support Ofsted’s comments in December 2015 that ‘high expectations have been established at the academy’.”

The spokesman added: “The school wishes all our students the very best of luck as they move onto Higher Education, apprenticeships and employment.”